Music of Eastern Europe

Sunday, 13 March, 2022, 7:00 p.m.

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Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall (RCM)

Thierry Escaich, organ

Oliver Poole & Pedro Gomes, pianists

Zvonimir Hačko, conductor

Pēteris Vasks: Vēstijums (Message) (1982) UK premiere for strings, two pianos and percussion

Thierry Escaich: Organ Concerto No. 1 (1995) UK premiere for organ and orchestra

Witold Lutosławski: Symphony No. 3 (1983) for full orchestra

Experience a voluptuous shimmer of sound in this must-hear repertoire at the ICCM’s inaugural concert on 13th March, performed by the RPO at the Royal College of Music. It opens with Vestijums by Pēteris Vasks, a lyrical work which expresses a sense of ecstasy at the natural environment. We then welcome the world-renowned composer Thierry Escaich performing the UK Premiere of his thrilling Organ Concerto No.1, which exploits the full sonic and colour range of the instrument and was selected as a highlight of the organ repertoire by Gramophone. We close with Lutoslawski’s ground-breaking third symphony, in which the players are given a degree of individual freedom, suggestive of the struggle for democratic freedom against totalitarian control.

New Polish Music

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Wednesday, 27 April, 2022, 7:00 p.m.

Queen Elizabeth Hall

Wojciech Błażejczyk, electric guitar

Jessica Cottis, conductor

Krzysztof Penderecki: Sinfonietta per archi (1992)

Wojciech Błażejczyk: Concerto for Electric Guitar & Orchestra (2020) world premiere

Paweł Mykietyn: “Prank” for chamber orchestra (2021) world premiere

The London Sinfonietta spotlights Polish composers in a concert with world premieres by Wojciech Błażejczyk and Paweł Mykietyn, alongside a work by Penderecki.

Two new pieces of Polish music are heard at the concert: the reorchestrated version of Wojciech Błażejczyk’s Concerto for Electric Guitar and String Orchestra [originally written in 2016] and now scored with the addition of percussion and live electronics; and Paweł Mykietyn’s playful concerto for chamber orchestra “Prank”. Both are ICCM commissions receiving their world premiere.

Celebrating Sofia Gubaidulina

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Sunday, 22 May, 2022, 7:00 p.m.

Cadogan Hall

Geir Draugsvoll, bayan

Zvonimir Hačko, conductor

Isidora Žebeljan: The Horses of St. Mark’s (2004) UK premiere
for orchestra

Sofia Gubaidulina: Fachwerk (2009)
for bayan, percussion and strings

Witold Lutosławski: Concerto for Orchestra (1954)

This concert is presented in celebration of Sofia Gubaidulina’s 90th birthday. Her Fachwerk is performed here by Geir Draugsvoll for whom the piece was originally written. The piece will also be recorded later this year by the same artistic team on Signum label.